Tag Archives: New Jersey

As the heroin epidemic continues in New Jersey, an infectious disease specialist is finding that a growing number of heroin users are testing positive for a potentially deadly virus they don’t even know they had.

Dr. Ronald Nahass, president of ID Care in Hillsborough, says the heroin epidemic is pushing up the number of hepatitis C cases dramatically.

“In our study, it was just over 40 percent of those admitted for detoxification for heroin were positive for hepatitis C,” Nahass said.

Researchers recently confirmed what many in the medical and drug treatment community had feared: Rates of Hepatitis C are skyrocketing among New Jersey’s suburban heroin users, particularly among the young.

A study that tested 861 suburban heroin users admitted to Princeton House, an inpatient treatment center, found that 44 percent tested positive for Hepatitis C, a potentially fatal but treatable disease that affects the liver. Of those, nearly two-thirds were under the age of 35.

“It’s crazy. I’m not sure I even expected to see the number that high,” said Ronald Nahass, an infectious disease specialist with ID Care, who conducted the study with researchers from Princeton House. “On the other hand, I don’t know that I’m terribly surprised. We’ve noticed this happening, and it really wasn’t being recognized, which is really upsetting me, frankly.”

Researchers recently confirmed what many in the medical and drug treatment community had feared: Rates of Hepatitis C are skyrocketing among New Jersey’s suburban heroin users, particularly among the young.

A study that tested 861 suburban heroin users admitted to Princeton House, an inpatient treatment center, found that 44 percent tested positive for Hepatitis C, a potentially fatal but treatable disease that affects the liver. Of those, nearly two-thirds were under the age of 35.

“It’s crazy. I’m not sure I even expected to see the number that high,” said Ronald Nahass, an infectious disease specialist with ID Care, who conducted the study with researchers from Princeton House. “On the other hand, I don’t know that I’m terribly surprised. We’ve noticed this happening, and it really wasn’t being recognized, which is really upsetting me, frankly.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Richard J. Codey that would put New Jersey in line with CDC recommendations to test baby boomers for Hepatitis C was advanced today by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.

“I have seen firsthand the effects that Hepatitis C can have on an individual and their family,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, Chairman of the Senate Health Committee. “If a patient is screened and made aware of the disease earlier, they can have a real shot at treatment, often so successful as to remove any trace of the disease. Real lives can be saved with this legislation.”

The issue is close to Senator Vitale’s heart as his father passed away from complications due to Hepatitis C, a disease that he contracted through a tainted blood transfusion. The Senator notes that through this legislation, individuals will be diagnosed earlier, allowing for effective treatment to avoid liver damage, cirrhosis and even cancer.

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph
F. Vitale and Richard J. Codey that would put New Jersey in line with
CDC recommendations to test baby boomers for Hepatitis C was advanced
today by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens
Committee.

“I have seen firsthand the effects that Hepatitis C can have on an
individual and their family,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, Chairman
of the Senate Health Committee. “If a patient is screened and made
aware of the disease earlier, they can have a real shot at treatment,
often so successful as to remove any trace of the disease. Real lives
can be saved with this legislation.”

The issue is close to Senator Vitale’s heart as his father passed
away from complications due to Hepatitis C, a disease that he contracted
through a tainted blood transfusion. The Senator notes that through
this legislation, individuals will be diagnosed earlier, allowing for
effective treatment to avoid liver damage, cirrhosis and even cancer.

Hepatitis C, a viral infection that can destroy people’s livers over
decades and ultimately kill them, can be treated successfully in about
70 percent of cases. But many residents are unaware that they have the
disease.

That’s why state legislators have introduced a bill, S-876/A-2555,
that would require all hospitals and healthcare professionals to offer
hepatitis C tests to all patients born between 1945 and 1965, the age
group that’s most likely to be infected.

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